Guidance Shared with School Leaders Regarding Immigration Enforcement Activity Off School Grounds

MCPS has provided school administrators with guidance and expectations for responding to immigration enforcement activity that may occur near school property, at school-sponsored events, or involving school transportation. The guidance focuses first on student and staff safety, clear communication, and coordination with MCPS leadership and legal services. Schools have been directed to prioritize moving students to safe locations when necessary, follow established notification procedures, and communicate verified information carefully and responsibly with families and staff. 

You can review that guidance here [LINK]

Enforcement Activity Near School Property

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1. If school administration learns that non-local law enforcement is expected to be in the process of carrying out an action near school property, the administrator may choose to secure the school (locking all entrances and stopping people from coming and going from the school), depending on the proximity and nature of the reported threat.

2. As quickly as possible, the school administrator must notify their director and the Division of Legal Services.

Guidance for Off-Site Events

1. In the event that non-local law enforcement appears at a school-sponsored event (e.g., an athletics practice or game, field trip, or another off-site activity), the on-site administrator should approach them to inquire about the reason for their presence. If no administrator is present, a coach, advisor, activity leader, or other responsible adult on site should approach the person.

2. Other staff should simultaneously guide students to the nearest safe location. That might be a locker room or other indoor athletic facility, inside a school, onto a bus, or another location that is within easy walking distance and allow students to reach a relatively safe space quickly.

3. As quickly as possible, the event lead or another responsible adult should immediately notify the school’s director, cluster security personnel and the Division of Legal Services.

Guidance for School Buses

1. If non-local law enforcement approaches a school bus and requests to board the bus, the driver should ask them to wait outside the bus, close the bus doors, and immediately call their director or their supervisor via the two-way radio or phone. The director or supervisor will then follow the notification procedures for administrators outlined above to communicate with MCPS leadership.

2. If non-local law enforcement is at or near a bus stop as the bus approaches, the driver should continue on to the next stop or another safe location nearby, stop, and call dispatcher via the two-way radio. The dispatcher will then follow the notification procedures for administrators outlined above to communicate with MCPS leadership.

Enforcement Actions When School Property is Used by Partner Organizations and Third Parties

1. In the event that non-local law enforcement should appear on school property outside of school hours and attempt to enter a non-MCPS sponsored program or event, that program should generally follow the protocols established by the leadership of its organization.

2. If the non-MCPS program or event serves MCPS students, MCPS will request that program/event staff notify the school the Division of Legal Services regarding any actual or attempted non-local law enforcement activity occurring on or around MCPS school property.

Communication Regarding Immigration Enforcement Actions

1. MCPS will first prioritize doing everything possible to secure the safety of students, staff, and others in our buildings and on our property. Therefore, the first line of communication will be from the administrator in an impacted school, to the people directly affected, to give them safety instructions, as needed. The next priority is to inform MCPS leadership (and, in the event of some emergencies, first responders). This is also true in the event of an immigration enforcement action that affects a school or office.

2. As soon as possible after addressing the immediate concerns generated by an immigration enforcement action, MCPS will inform the staff and families in the school community directly affected by the incident. We will only share verified information to the extent that we can without compromising the safety or privacy rights of students, families, and/or staff. We will also use caution about sharing information before we have been able to ascertain the facts of the situation—we are mindful that it is important not to put people at risk or generate unnecessary confusion or fear by spreading misinformation or rumors.

3. After the immediate situation has been addressed, MCPS will inform all staff and families about any immigration enforcement incident that occurs at a school or school-sponsored event. We will be fully transparent about the incident but can only share as much information as possible without compromising the safety or privacy rights of students, families, and/or staff.